2027 Elections: NAAM Demands INEC Explanation Over Pantami, Other Governorship Candidates
By Auwal Umar, Gombe
The National Association of Achievers Movement (NAAM) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the legal basis for excluding some governorship candidates from its final list for the 2027 general elections while recognising others whose nominations have also generated public debate.
The association expressed concern over the omission of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo in Kano State.
It also sought clarification on the inclusion of Senator Shehu Buba Umar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State, former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Nasarawa State, and Kingsley Chinda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Speaking with journalists in Gombe on Wednesday, NAAM National President, Prof. Bishop Fumlack Victor, said INEC must demonstrate that electoral laws were being applied uniformly, transparently and fairly to all political parties and candidates.
“Our concern is that INEC should demonstrate that the same applicable legal standards have been applied fairly, consistently and transparently to every political party and candidate,” Mr Victor said.
He acknowledged that the cases might involve different circumstances but maintained that the commission should provide evidence-based explanations to address concerns arising from the contrasting decisions.
The association stressed that its intervention was not intended to seek the arbitrary disqualification or reinstatement of any candidate but to promote transparency, due process and fairness in the electoral process.
According to the statement, INEC attributed the exclusion of some candidates to alleged non-compliance with political party membership-register requirements under Sections 77(5) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026.
However, NAAM urged the commission to provide case-by-case explanations, including whether the affected political parties submitted their membership registers within the statutory period and whether the candidates’ names appeared in the relevant records.
In Gombe State, the association said Pantami’s omission had attracted particular attention following his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate in a fresh primary conducted after earlier litigation over the party’s nomination process.
NAAM noted that winning a party primary did not automatically establish compliance with every statutory requirement for candidacy.
It nevertheless urged INEC to explain how the relevant legal provisions informed its decision to exclude the former minister from the final list.
The group also requested clarification on the exclusion of Adebutu in Ogun State and Gwarzo in Kano State, asking whether their cases were determined exclusively on membership-register compliance or involved other legal and procedural considerations.
Beyond the excluded candidates, the association called on INEC to clarify the circumstances surrounding the recognition of Senator Shehu Buba Umar, Chinda and Adamu.
For Bauchi State, it asked the commission to establish whether Senator Umar’s PRP membership was properly documented, whether the party submitted its register within the stipulated period and whether his nomination satisfied the applicable legal requirements.
In Rivers State, NAAM sought clarification on Chinda’s APC membership and nomination amid public questions about the timing of his party registration, the governorship primary and his reported defection from the PDP.
The association also asked INEC to explain the legal and procedural basis for recognising Adamu as the SDP candidate in Nasarawa State following reports that an earlier nominee had withdrawn and was subsequently replaced.
It emphasised that seeking explanations about the candidates did not amount to an accusation of misconduct.
“We are not asking INEC to presume wrongdoing. We are asking it to explain the basis for its decisions and the evidence supporting them,” the statement said.
NAAM urged INEC to identify any significant differences between the cases that might justify different outcomes, insisting that candidates in similar circumstances should be assessed using the same applicable legal standards.
It also called on the commission to correct any established administrative error or unlawful decision in accordance with the law, relevant court judgments and statutory deadlines.
The association clarified that it was not demanding the automatic reinstatement of Pantami, Adebutu or Gwarzo, nor was it seeking the removal of candidates already recognised by the commission.
“If a candidate has satisfied the applicable requirements, that candidate should be recognised in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
“If a candidate has failed to satisfy a mandatory statutory requirement, the relevant authorities should act through the lawful procedures available to them.”
The group encouraged affected political parties and candidates to pursue available administrative and judicial remedies within the prescribed timelines.
It added that public confidence in the 2027 general elections would depend, in part, on Nigerians understanding the legal grounds on which INEC makes decisions concerning candidates’ eligibility.
“No candidate should be above the law. No eligible candidate should be unfairly excluded. No political party should be subjected to a different legal standard without a defensible basis,” the association said.
NAAM urged the commission to issue timely explanations on the disputed nominations, arguing that transparency, consistency and equal treatment were essential to protecting the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
